Dig the Ditches

Intro

We are continuing in a series looking at the life of a man in the Old Testament names Elisha as an example of how God will use a life to accomplish the greater things that He has planned for us!

We said last week, often, we look at our lives and want better.

But have settled for BETTER when God wants GREATER.

We settle for our lives just being a little bit better while God has a greater plan and purposes for us that we have to be carful not to forfeit.

Ephesians 3:20

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us

We serve a God of greater!

And he wants to work his power and plans through us.

I want the greater life God has for me, are we willing to pursue it?

I wonder how many moments we’ve been in that we have to step back and say, yeah… that’s on me. My bad.

Here’s a fairly frequent one for me. I need to swap cars with my wife, I get a call or text that says hey, did you not think I needed gas!

Erg yeah… that’s on me.

A few years ago I was changing out a dishwasher.

I unscrewed everything, I disconnected the electrical, and I disconnected the water line to the dishwater - but there was a fatal mistake.

I forgot about turning off the water to the dishwasher… So water is spraying everywhere!!

Not only that but it’s the hot water. All over me, the floor the ceiling...

I’m getting frustrated, yelling at someone to help me. It’s chaos!

But there was only one singular person at fault. That’s on me. My bad. I did that.

See there are a lot of things in life that aren’t on anyone else. Things that only we can do.

Not even God can do our part, that’s on me.

The story we are looking at today deals with just that.

And I wonder how often we are frustrated, discouraged, blaming others even God... when it really starts with me.

(story setup)

There is about to be a war go down.

The kingdom of Moab had been paying a tax to Israel, but they decided they weren’t going to do that anymore and revolted against israel.

The King of Israel, Jehoram, went to two nearby kings (Judah and Edom) and said come and fight with me against Moab.

So these 3 Kings have come together to go and war against Moab and teach them a lesson.

They are entering into conflict and war.

2 Kings 3:8–10 (NKJV)

Then he said, “Which way shall we go up?”

And he answered, “By way of the Wilderness of Edom.”

So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom, and they marched on that roundabout route seven days; and there was no water for the army, nor for the animals that followed them. And the king of Israel said, “Alas! For the Lord has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”

Check out what’s happening.

Not only are they walking into the uncertainty of war, but now it’s gotten worst.

There is no water.

It is dry.

They aren’t missing wifi… They are missing water.

The lack of water becomes life threatening after about 3 days.

The situation is desperate.

they look around and there is no sign of hope of refreshment.

Not only can they not fight, they will prob die before the fight starts.

King of Israel blames God! Has he brought us here just to kill us!!

We can look around at our lives and our souls can feel like they are in the dry, deserted wilderness.

No signs of life or refreshment.

how can we talk about purpose and greater when I just want to survive....

And sometimes it we can feel the same even if we don’t utter is....

Has God just left me. Am I abandoned here.

It’s interesting though that even though King Jehoram is blaming God, this one is on him.

He decided to head out in the way of the wilderness of Edom, a deserted area, and he knew how long the journey would be.

They didn’t bring enough water. Now it’s God fault!

Sometimes our current situations can be a reflection of our past decisions

and God is wanting to get your attention to change the way you have been living.

2 Kings 3:11–12 (NKJV)

But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of the Lord by him?”

So one of the servants of the king of Israel answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.”

And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the Lord is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.

Now when things are falling apart and hope seems lost, they decide they should probably ask God.

That should have been step one, but better late than never.

2 Kings 3:13–14 (NKJV)

Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.”

But the king of Israel said to him, “No, for the Lord has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”

And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you.

Jehoram had done evil in God’s sight. Had worshipped other God’s.

Elisha said I ain’t talking to you!!

Can we do the same though, we come to God because nothing else has worked out not because we really trust him??!?

2 Kings 3:15 (NKJV)

But now bring me a musician.”

Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him.

Bring the keyboard in, set up the acoustic. We’re going to worship!

Elisha shows us the right way to find the right answer!

PAUSE THE NOISE, PUSH INTO GOD’S PRESENCE

can’t let the chaos be what i hear. I have to hear from God. The presence of God changes the atmosphere.

At any given moment there are thousands of decisions to make and that you could make.

What they needed and what we need is a word from God.

To see what God says we have to seek his presence.

THEN IT HAPPENED!

The word of the Lord came.

when he pressed into his presence.

This is what the kings should have done to begin with.

God isn’t just there to pull us out of problems, but problems are an opportunity to pull into God!

So often we just want a promise, but what we need is the presence.

It’s open me, no one else can do this for me.

2 Kings 3:16–18 (NKJV)

And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’ And this is a simple matter in the sight of the Lord; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.

A word came from God. He is about to move in a mighty way.

The word seems kind of odd… Make the valley full of ditches (well get back to this)

I will fill this valley with water!

But you won’t see wind or rain.

Not only will I give you water, you will win the war you came here for!!

This is SIMPLE to the Lord!!

God is faithful. God’s word is faithful!

He is able to do more than we can ask or imagine.

But notice… IT DIDN’T MAKE SENSE. Bunch of water but not rain...

Also notice what he didn’t say… He didn’t say when it’d happen.

God is faithful even though we may not understand it.

WE may not know how or when. But God will not fail on his part.

The kings wanted Elisha to tell them about a miracle, instead he have them a task.

I will move, I will refresh you and you will be victorious, but right now, GO DIG DITCHES.

DIG YOUR DITCHES

God is faithful, he asks us to be faith filled and dig some ditches.

They have no water, on the brink of death and the word is dig holes in the ground.

Imagine being them.

God can only fill the ditches that are dug.

How often are we waiting on God for water and he’s wanting us to dig ditches.

That’s on me. I have a part.

I’ll dig it, God will fill it. I dig it, God will fill it.

When you look at the dry, difficult places that we are believing in God, what are some ditches we need to be digging.

Am I preparing for the blessing God wants to bring.

So often the areas of Christy and I’s life that we have seen God pour out the most, is in places the we dug when it was dry.

We didn’t see a thing but dug into his promises. and kept digging.

digging when no one was watching, no accolades, no understanding, just a word.

When we feel it and when we don’t.

No rain or wind, I don’t feel it, but God will fill it.

What are the dry places in your life?

Places you’re believing for?

Financially? how can you dig ditches.

Continue to be generous. serve others. Stay faithful. Create a budget.

Marriage?

Love your spouse. pray for your spouse. Dig.

Preparing for Marriage?

Stop settling for the wrong people. be the person that is ready for marriage. Dig.

A word you feel God has given you but you haven’t seen it, keep digging.

I’ll dig it, God will fill it.

2 Kings 3:20 (NKJV)

Now it happened in the morning, when the grain offering was offered, that suddenly water came by way of Edom, and the land was filled with water.

Suddenly!

It seemed all of a sudden, but the prepped for this.

Check this out.

water came by the way of Edom.

Back in verse 8, the had went in the wilderness by the way of Edom.

It was that way that almost destroyed them.

If we will trust God, the very thing that you thought would break you will become a breakthrough.

Don’t stop digging.

The digging is on me! the filling is on him.

CONCLUSION

So, what’s on me?

I can tend to blame God for the very areas I haven’t been faithful to him in.

It’s even easy to look at other people God is blessing and think man that must be nice, but i’ve trust God long enough now I ask, what ditches did they have to dig!

Press into his presence and pick up a shovel.

Response.

What ditches do you need to be digging?

Salvation.